A Madison man in March stole two cars in Oconomowoc while fleeing police who were searching for him just hours after he repeatedly stabbed his wife, according to a criminal complaint.

Michael Wagner, 38, reportedly drove both cars as long as he could — the first had engine problems and the second ran out of gas — and was eventually caught in Fond du Lac.

Wagner was convicted of the stabbing in July and is serving 12 years in a Madison prison. Now, he stands accused of two counts of driving a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, felonies that could add another 12 years to his sentence.

According to the complaint, Wagner fled his Madison home after the stabbing in a car he and his wife shared and drove it until it ran out of gas. He parked the car, then found an unlocked Jeep in a parking lot outside Proven Power, N68 W36046 Highway K, and drove that SUV until unspecified engine problems prompted him to abandon it, the complaint said.

Wagner subsequently found an unlocked truck in a driveway on Yosemite Road, and drove that vehicle to Fond du Lac, where it ran out of gas, according to the complaint. Officers caught up to him a short distance from the abandoned truck, and Wagner reportedly told them, "I'm the guy you're looking for."

Court records show that Wagner on June 8 pleaded guilty to one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. He repeatedly stabbed his wife in a fit of rage precipitated by mental health issues, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

In addition to the prison term, Wagner could face up to $20,000 in fines if convicted of the additional charges. His next Waukesha County court date was not immediately available.